Is Volume a Physical or Chemical Property? (And Why?)

Volume is a physical property of matter. ¹ It refers to the amount of space occupied by an object or substance and can be measured without altering the chemical composition of the material. ^{2 3} Physical properties are characteristics that can be observed or measured without causing any chemical changes.

Well, this was just a simple answer. But there are few more things to know about this topic which will make your concept super clear.

So let’s dive right into it.

Why is volume a physical property?

Volume is considered a physical property because it is a characteristic of matter that can be measured or observed without altering the substance’s chemical composition. ⁴ Physical properties are those that describe the state or condition of a substance without changing its identity. ⁵

Here are some key points explaining why volume is a physical property:

1. Measurability: Volume can be quantified using various measurement techniques, such as using a graduated cylinder for liquids or measuring the dimensions of an object to calculate its volume. Since it is measurable, it can be expressed using specific units like liters, cubic meters, cubic inches, etc. ⁶
2. Independence from quantity: The volume of a substance remains the same, regardless of the quantity of the substance present. For example, a liter of water will occupy the same volume as a liter of watermelon juice, even though their masses or compositions might be different.
3. Non-destructive measurement: Determining the volume of a substance does not alter the substance’s chemical structure or properties. You can measure the volume of an object or a sample of matter without causing any chemical changes to it.
4. Basis for other properties: Volume is related to other physical properties, such as density. Density is the mass of a substance per unit volume. ⁷ Understanding the volume of a material is essential for various scientific and engineering calculations.
5. Standardized units: Volume is expressed using standardized units in the International System of Units (SI), making it a fundamental concept in physics and other scientific disciplines.

Due to these characteristics, volume is classified as a physical property, distinguishing it from chemical properties, which involve changes in the substance’s chemical composition or behavior.

Why is volume not a chemical property?

Volume is not a chemical property because it is a macroscopic characteristic that depends on the physical arrangement and packing of molecules or atoms in a substance, rather than its internal molecular or atomic structure or its chemical composition.

Chemical properties are inherent to the specific chemical composition and structure of a substance, determining how it undergoes chemical reactions, interacts with other substances, or changes its chemical identity. ⁸

These properties are observed at the molecular or atomic level and are not concerned with the spatial distribution of matter.

On the other hand, volume is a measure of the amount of space occupied by a substance, which is determined by the arrangement and packing of its particles.

It is a property of matter that can be observed and measured at a macroscopic level without altering the substance’s chemical identity or composition.

For example, if you have a liter of water and a liter of alcohol, they will occupy the same volume (1 liter), but their chemical properties are entirely different.

Water is a polar molecule with various unique chemical behaviors, ⁹ while alcohol has its distinct properties as well. However, despite their different chemical properties, their volumes remain the same.

In summary, volume is considered a physical property because it deals with the macroscopic aspects of matter, such as its spatial extension and packing, rather than the microscopic interactions of its constituent particles, which are the domain of chemical properties.

How is volume measured for solid objects, liquids, and gases?

Volume is measured differently for solid objects, liquids, and gases due to their distinct physical properties and states. 

Here’s how volume is typically measured for each of them:

Solid Objects:

• Regular Shapes: For regular geometric shapes like cubes, rectangular prisms, cylinders, spheres, etc., the volume can be calculated using mathematical formulas specific to each shape. For example, the volume of a cube is given by V = a³, where “a” is the length of one side. ¹⁰
• Irregular Shapes: For irregularly shaped objects, their volume can be determined using displacement methods. One common approach is to immerse the object in a liquid in a graduated cylinder or overflow can, and the volume of the liquid displaced by the object is equal to the object’s volume. ¹¹

Liquids:

• Graduated Cylinder: Liquids are often measured using graduated cylinders, which are cylindrical containers with volume markings along the side. ¹² The volume of the liquid is read at the meniscus, which is the curved surface of the liquid in the cylinder, at eye level. The reading corresponds to the volume of the liquid.
• Pipettes and Burettes: For more precise measurements of smaller volumes, pipettes and burettes are used. Pipettes are used for transferring specific volumes of liquid, while burettes are used in titration experiments to measure the volume of liquid delivered. ^{13 14}

Gases:

• Gas Laws: The volume of a gas can be measured indirectly using gas laws such as Boyle’s law, Charles’s law, or the combined gas law. These laws describe the relationship between the volume, pressure, and temperature of a gas. ^{15 16}
• Gas Syringe or Eudiometer: In the laboratory, a gas syringe or eudiometer is used to measure the volume of a gas directly. A gas syringe is a graduated plastic syringe that allows the gas to be trapped and its volume to be read from the markings on the syringe. An eudiometer is a graduated glass tube that can be filled with gas and inverted in a liquid, where the volume of the gas can be read from the liquid level. ¹⁷

It’s important to note that for gases, the volume is highly dependent on the pressure and temperature at which the measurement is taken due to their compressible nature. The volume of liquids and solid objects, however, is relatively less affected by changes in pressure and temperature under normal conditions.

Further reading

Is Malleability a Physical or Chemical Property?
Is Hardness a Physical or Chemical Property?
Is Conductivity a Physical or Chemical Property?
Is Reactivity a Physical or Chemical Property?
Is Toxicity a Physical or Chemical Property?

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